Journal: Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society
Volume: JOTGES 31:61 (Autumn 2018)
Article: The Stone/Rock/Tomb Motif In Matthew
Author: Bob Swift

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JOTGES 31:61 (Autumn 2018) p. 35

The Stone/Rock/Tomb Motif In Matthew

Bob Swift

In Memoriam1

I. Introduction

In Matthew’s Gospel, the words “stone” (lithos) and “rock” (petra) occur ten times (Matt 3:9; 4:3, 6; 7:9; 21:42, 44; 24:2; 27:60, 66; 28:2) and five times (Matt 7:24, 25; 16:18; 27:51, 60),2 respectively. The related word “tomb” (taphos or mnēmeion) occurs thirteen times (taphos in Matt 23:27, 29; 27:61, 64, 66; 28:1; mnēmeion in Matt 8:28; 23:29; 27:52, 53, 60 [2x]; 28:8).

As I reflected on the raised saints in Matt 27:51–54, it struck me that the rock/stone/tomb motif is a vital one, not only for that passage, but for all of Matthew’s Gospel. In the Matthew 27 passage we see rocks split and the tombs of certain dead believers opened, accompanied by their bodily resurrection. This results in the confession of the centurion concerning Christ, that He is the Son of God, in Matt 27:54. In Matt 16:18 we see that Peter’s great confession of Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God, is the “rock” upon which Jesus would build His church.

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